I can speak a new language - southern

[Robinrs]

Hey, YO!

There is no such THING as a "Northern accent"! There are way too many regions to generalize them like that!

There are many different types of Southern accents, too, twangs and drawls. Some that make me gag while others sound like music to the ears.

Been in the south for 18 years now, will tawk like a New Yawker till I die, MUCH to my co-workers chagrin.

 

[KathyTX]

Krista, you don't have an accent! You and I sound absolutely normal.

It's the REST of y'all that have accents!

 

[jipsy]

Know the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee?

A Yankee goes down south to visit.

A Damn Yankee goes down south and stays.

 

[KingsFanInRI]

y'all need to check out some of Jeff Foxworthy's older stuff where he talks about words that they have in the South and nowhere else. The one that is most appropriate for this discussion is youins (sometimes spelled yinz) which is y'all plus three.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I have that CD! Guess that makes me a redneck, even though I try hard not to be. My favorite Southern word is "Usedacud" (pronounced Used ah could).

"Can ya dance?"
"Well I usedacud. Gimme a minute. I might could again."

TOV

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

lol I love that Jeff Foxworthy CD. He is too funny.

It's just ya'll. I don't think I have an accent either. Until I went to NY and they just couldn't get enough of me talking.

 

[Lady Cluck]

When DH is going somewhere or going to do something, he's "Fixin' to".

I'm originally from central CA, married an Okie boy 15 years ago, and have not looked back. There's just Something about those southern boys.

Northeastern Oklahoma is called "Green Country". Despite preconceived visions of the Dust Bowl, the eastern third is very pretty. In Spring, the rolling landscape becomes the most vibrant shade of green you can imagine.

 

[SandraC]

Eh? [Just a Canadian gal listening to all your American accents]

 

[KristiKelly]

If you really want to learn to speak southern, there are more words than just y'all & a few southern tips

-Creek - NOT pronounced Crick - it's creek just like it's spelled.
-Bar B Q - is a way of preparing pork
-Pig Pickin' - is a party to cook BarBQ
-tennis shoes - actually pronounced - tennishoes - common term used for any type of running, walking, basketball... shoes - Not Sneakers.
-Grits - well, you just need to start eating those - try them with cheese too.
-Watch the Andy Griffith Show, maybe that's just NC thing - comes on everyday!! You'lll get a lotta southern terms there.
-talk slower - what's your hurry?

Well, I can't think of anymore right now, but I'll get back to ya with the "how to be a Southerner" class.

 

[Wishing on a star]

There ARE a lot of different Southern accents! (just like Northern ones too.) And, the one poster was right... Some are just awful, but some are like music to the ears!!! When visiting Charleston SC... Ran into a couple of people with true old-Southern-SC accents.. OMG!!! Just poetic!!! Can you say "Chahhhhlstahn"!

Now, what you have to realize is that there is Southern.... and there is "Country-Southern" Ewwwww!!!!!

Nothing is like fingernails on a chalkboard like a loud nasal northern accent... "Wanta Pop!!!!"

 

[PCWizard]

American by birth.

Southern by the grace of God.

Be proud of who you are.

:thewave:

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Just had to pop back in ta say I <3 your username, Wishing on a star. Reminds me of that old Cover Girls song, I'm Wishing On A Star.

TOV

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks!

Of course, here on the DIS, Disney is what I am thinking of when I think of Wishing On A Star!!

 

[KathyTX]

I really never thought I had an accent, until I was in my early 20s...

I had a dear friend from Michigan who went to Australia for a few months. I can't COUNT the times I got phone calls from my buddy and various collections of his new Aussie friends, usually drunk and calling from a bar, wanting to talk to the Texas chick to hear her accent. Even when they woke me up, it tickled me to no end...

 

[KristaTX]

Originally posted by Lady Cluck
When DH is going somewhere or going to do something, he's "Fixin' to".

What's wrong with "fixin' to" ?

Northeastern Oklahoma is called "Green Country". Despite preconceived visions of the Dust Bowl, the eastern third is very pretty. In Spring, the rolling landscape becomes the most vibrant shade of green you can imagine.

Very true . My parents are originally from "Green Country" and a lot of my family still lives in Poteau. There are some parts of Oklahoma that are actually quite beautiful. Still, I don't think I'd ever want to live there .

 

[laurie31]

I haven't ever said y'all to refer to just one person, but we do say all y'all to a large group. For example, on a holiday like the 4th when the whole family (20+ people) gathers for barbeque, when the meat is about ready I might say, "Do all of y'all want iced tea to drink or do some of y'all want something else?" If it's just my own family (4 people) I just ask, "What do y'all want to drink?"

Back when I was young and single, I might say to a group of friends, "What are all y'all doing after the game?" (do I need to explain that 'the game' is college football? LOL) I suppose the northern translation might be, "What are each of you doing after the game?"

Laurie, happily southern

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by laurie31


Back when I was young and single, I might say to a group of friends, "What are all y'all doing after the game?" (do I need to explain that 'the game' is college football? LOL) I suppose the northern translation might be, "What are each of you doing after the game?"

Actually the northern translation would be "What are you guys doing after the game?" Or, for the less gramatically-correct people, "What are yous guys doing after the game?" Personally I hate when people say "yous".

 

[ibouncetoo]

Yep. 'you guys' is what you will often hear a Northerner say....even if speaking to a group of women I think I started using y'all just to avoid calling my gal pals 'guys'. Though I'm not sure....I sometimes start using certain words or expressions because they strike my fancy....and they just become part of my speach.

Now I'll teach you all some SOUTHWESTERN:

......Adios, y'all!.......

 

[mep319]

Originally posted by flaps
Surely you jest! Once a Yankee, always a Yankee. No escapin' it. Least not 'round these parts.

Don't know about that...Live outside Phila and have a friend who went to college in NC has lived there 15 yrs and just moved back...and oh my! The way she talks! Some southern accents are cool but others....well maybe it is more the "apalachin" accents...they certainly aren't cool. I'm sure I'll get flamed but ...... I grew up in FL and while I know it isn't "southern" per se it does have a tawg and every year when we go to Disney by the end of the trip I've picked up my old habits again...and boy does DH make fun of me!

 

[mep319]

Originally posted by ibouncetoo
Yep. 'you guys' is what you will often hear a Northerner say....even if speaking to a group of women I think I started using y'all just to avoid calling my gal pals 'guys'. Though I'm not sure....I sometimes start using certain words or expressions because they strike my fancy....and they just become part of my speach.

Now I'll teach you all some SOUTHWESTERN:

......Adios, y'all!.......

Or even...can you imagine!!??!! "you all" In NY and Phila sometimes you'll even get "you ins" I hate that one. But I use "you guys" all the time and certainly feel it is a gender neutral term or even just "guys"

When DH is going somewhere or going to do something, he's "Fixin' to".

Oh and it's "Where ya goin'?" Or "What ya/you gonna do?"